Details about the Nopera Golf course
Our course is the only one in the Marlborough Sounds - located in the Kenepuru Sound on a working farm surrounded by a stunning landscape. We offer a golf course and a croquet field.
Through our partners there are also activites like walks, fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, sight seeing and plenty more available.
Come and see for yourself.
What it is all about?
The only one in the Marlborough Sounds
Nopera golf course is a compact nine holes situated in Kenepuru Sound. It is a short course due physical constraints, but offers difficulty due to the proximity of out of bound fences, strategic plantings, and a deep creek that bisects the property. It is adjacent to the ocean and surrounded by bush clad hills. It is becoming part of the local cultural and tourism scene with allied activities such as fishing, cycling, tramping, kayaking, sailing, and relaxing in the local accommodation. There is a Croquet Court on the course adjacent to the clubhouse and equipment available to hire at very reasonable rates for both sports.
Nopera Bay Golf Club is run entirely by volunteers. It boasts modern equipment and a comprehensive irrigation scheme to enable good playing conditions year round despite a high rainfall climate interspersed with hot dry summers. The Marlborough Sounds comprise ten percent of the coastline of New Zealand, but Nopera is the only golf course in the region.
The blue tees play longer than the red for a par of 62.
Course Layout
Course Description
Take a virtual golf tour
Hole 1 (Phoenix)
Par 4 | 214m
Par 4. 214 metres, but with an elevated green and a prevailing breeze, plays somewhat longer. It is a dogleg left with out of bounds both sides of the fairway. The green slopes downhill from the back to the front.
Hole 2 (Nopera Heights)
Par 4 | 327m
It is a dogleg right where the ideal drive is a fade to the left side of the fairway and a view of the green, over the gully and behind dense bush, but still close to the electric boundary fence. Unsurprisingly Nopera Heights is the most difficult hole on the course at 327 metres.
Hole 3 (Te Matau-a-Māui)
Par 4 | 230m
Par 4. At 230 metres it looks deceptively easy, however out of bounds on the right, trees and gully on the left with a target zone that narrows close to the green punish the errant shot. Accurate play is often rewarded with a birdie on this hole.
Hole 4 (Georges Green)
Par 3 | 122m
Par 3. The gully is a significant hazard on this short par 3. It intrudes into the fairway and is present to the right and rear of the green. Possibly the most picturesque hole on the course.
Hole 5 (The Gallery)
Par 3 | 167m
Par 3. A hundred and sixty seven metres with a bunker on the left of the green and the gully all the way down the right side of the fairway. Into the southerly or with the norwester could mean the difference between a driver or a short iron for the average golfer.
Hole 6 (Tī Kōuka)
Par 3 | 134m
Par 3. Named for the Cordyline Australis or New Zealand Cabbage trees that fringe the tees for a straight forward drive to the sloping green. To the left and right the rough is significant and trees surround all but the straight approach. The green is deceptively higher than the tee.
Hole 7 (Godsiffs Gully)
Par 3 | 144m
Par 3. The tees are elevated, the green slopes alarmingly and is large enough that judging pace on the putting surface is a tricky task. Large trees intrude into the narrow fairway airspace on the right and the rough on the left is demanding. Trees surround the green.
Hole 8 (Eagles Delight)
Par 3 | 153m
Par 3. 157 metres with the widest and deepest part of the gully located in front of the large, flat green, out of bounds to the back and a water hazard to the left of the landing zone.
Hole 9 (Clubhouse Calling)
Par 4 | 213m
Par 4. The tee shot is blind over the gully and tall trees and bush. The green is guarded by a sand bunker on the right and a green bunker, flaxes, trees and water hazard on the left.
Repeat the same tee boxes to avoid the mistakes you made the first time around, or swap to the red tees to learn a whole set of new ones.
Nopera Golf Club score card
Local course rules
- 15cm placing on own fairway
- Out of bounds defined by boundary fences and white pegs on right hand side of No.Fairway
- Staked trees, 1 club length free relief
- Repair divots and pitch marks
- Creek hazard - enter to retrieve balls at own risk
Markers to centre of green:
Red & Blue - 135m Orange - 90m
Treat all fences as “LIVE”
